"Two things are certain about the future of politics and international relations," writes Gene Sharp. "Conflict is inevitable, and effective defense will be required against internal usurpers and international aggressors." The crucial issue is how to deter and defend against such attacks. Sharp has been called the "Clausewitz of nonviolent warfare" and has been a leading pioneer in developing of civilian-based defense. This book applies the results of his studies on nonviolent struggle to the problems of deterrence and defense. For the general public and policymakers, it explains how massive and selective noncooperation and defiance by a country's population and institutions can deny attackers their objectives without the dangers of modern war.

Sharp discusses several prototypical cases of improvised nonviolent noncooperation and defiance against occupations and coups. He explores the strategies of prepared civilian-based defense and the ways "transarmament"--or the changeover from military defense systems--could be conducted. He also surveys the efforts of a few European countries to integrate small nonviolent resistance components into their predominantly military defense policies. Rather than treating nonviolent ethical systems, the author focuses on the practicalities of the further development of a "nonviolent weapons system."